St Mary-le-Bow
Tours of St Mary-le-Bow take place on Thursdays at 2 pm and 3 pm from April to October. They cost £5.
There has been a place of worship on the site of St Mary-le-Bow since c.1080; although the medieval church was destroyed by the Great Fire of 1666, the Norman Crypt remains somewhat intact, and recently pronounced archaeologically commensurate with the Tower of London.
The church’s present character stems from Wren’s rebuilding in 1683. Bombed during enemy raids in 1941, the church was restored and reconsecrated in 1964. Its stunning stained glass by John Hayward is worth a visit in itself. Regular debates and dialogues shed new light on issues of faith, ethics and economic justice, while the arts are regularly celebrated in concerts, recitals and exhibitions.
Through its daily round of services St Mary-le-Bow seeks to share the Gospel in traditional and new ways, and remains an oasis of peace in the midst of the City.
